I disagree. For this to mean WW3, the west would need to actually DO something. Putin is playing this brilliantly. He’s put Ukraine in a box: stand by and allow me to slice off parts of your country as I choose, or resist and give me the excuse I need to invade. Either way the Ukes lose. Putin also knows Obama will do nothing (and I’m not saying he should, unless and until the Ukes defend themselves, why should anyone come to their aid?) and the Brits will do less than nothing if the US doesn’t. The Brits and French were pretty brave in Libya, content to let Obama lead from behind. That’s not about to happen again against a real-live military. US foreign policy is a joke. Putin neither respects nor fears Obama, he laughs after he hangs up the phone after an Obama call. After Putin finishes with Ukraine, all he needs to do is use the same script against Estonia, an actual NATO member, then stand and watch as NATO does nothing and winds up on the ash heap of history.
“Putin also knows Obama will do nothing (and I’m not saying he should, unless and until the Ukes defend themselves, why should anyone come to their aid?”
Perhaps because we vowed to do exactly that if they agreed to give up their nukes?